As to the steel cap there was no difficulty whatever.
"You must have a plume at least," the earl said, and took some feathers from his own casque and fastened them in.

"Will you want a light sword and battle-ax ?" "No," Cuthbert said, "my arms are pretty well used to those of the men-at-arms.

I could wield my father's sword, and that was a heavy one." The lightest of the earl's weapons were chosen, and it was agreed that all was now ready for the conflict to-morrow.
In the morning there was a slight bustle in the camp.
The news that a fight was to take place between an English and a Brabant page, by the permission of the kings of England and France, that their majesties were to be present, and that all was to be conducted on regular rules, caused a stir of excitement and novelty in the camp.
Nowhere is life duller than among a large body of men kept together for any time under canvas, and the thought of a combat of this novel kind excited general interest.
In a meadow at a short distance from the camp a body of King Richard's men-at-arms marked off an oval space of about an acre.

Upon one side of this a tent was pitched for the kings, and a small tent was placed at each end for the combatants.

Round the inclosure the men-at-arms formed the ring, and behind them a dense body of spectators gathered, a place being set aside for nobles, and others of gentle blood.
At the hour fixed the kings of England and France arrived together.